Fuel dispenser flow meter fraud detection and prevention

ABSTRACT

A method of conducting a fueling transaction at a fuel dispenser. The fuel dispenser includes a flow meter operatively connected to internal fuel flow piping. The method comprises the step of providing a displacement sensor for generating information representative of an amount of fuel delivered through the flow meter. The displacement sensor comprises at least one transponder operatively connected to the flow meter. The method also comprises providing at least one interrogator electronics configured for remote electronic communication with the at least one transponder and authorizing the fueling transaction. Finally, the method comprises communicating with the at least one transponder using the at least one interrogator electronics during the fueling transaction. Fuel dispensers and flow meter assemblies comprising displacement sensors having transponders and/or capacitive sensing elements are also disclosed.

PRIORITY CLAIM

This application is a continuation of copending U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 13/452,506, entitled “Fuel Dispenser Flow Meter Fraud Detectionand Prevention,” filed on Apr. 20, 2012, which claims priority to U.S.Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/477,308, entitled “Fuel DispenserFlow Meter Fraud Detection and Prevention,” filed on Apr. 20, 2011. Eachof the foregoing applications is hereby relied upon and incorporatedherein by reference in its entirety for all purposes.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to fuel dispensers. Morespecifically, the present invention relates to detection and preventionof fraud caused by tampering with a fuel flow meter associated with afuel dispenser.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Fuel dispensers in retail service station environments include flowmeters that measure the volumetric flow rate of fuel as it is dispensed.Such flow meters are typically required to comply with weights andmeasures regulatory requirements that mandate a high level of accuracy.This ensures that the customer is neither overcharged nor underchargedfor the fuel purchase. Typically, either positive displacement meters orinferential meters have been used for this purpose.

In modern service station fuel dispensers, a control system processessignals generated by a displacement sensor to monitor the amount of fueldelivered to a customer's vehicle. Various types of displacement sensorshave been used to sense the flow rate of various fluids, includingmagnetic sensors and optical sensors. One such displacement sensor isreferred to as a pulser. Pulsers are sensors operatively connected tothe flow meter to measure rotation of a flow meter shaft. As fuel isdispensed, causing the shaft to rotate, the pulser generates a pulsetrain. Each pulse represents a known volume of fuel (e.g., 0.001gallons) passing through the meter.

Attempts have been made to interfere with the displacement sensor on afuel flow meter in order to modify the calculated volume of fueldispensed. For example, a dishonest consumer may disconnect thedisplacement sensor (or one of its components) from the fuel flow meterprior to a fueling transaction. Also, a dishonest consumer may disableeither or both of the fuel dispenser or displacement sensor electronicsand force fuel through the fuel flow meter.

Often, mechanical means are used to prevent detachment of thedisplacement sensor from the fuel flow meter. For example,commonly-owned U.S. Pub. App. No. 2009/0314804 to Kinzie et al.,incorporated by reference herein in its entirety for all purposes,discloses a lockable enclosure for protecting a pulser of a fueldispenser. Alternatively, locks and pins on the meter and pulser havebeen used for this purpose.

SUMMARY

The present invention recognizes and addresses disadvantages of priorart constructions and methods. According to one embodiment, the presentinvention provides a method of conducting a fueling transaction at afuel dispenser. The fuel dispenser comprises a flow meter operativelyconnected to internal fuel flow piping. The method comprises the stepsof providing a displacement sensor for generating informationrepresentative of an amount of fuel delivered through the flow meter.The displacement sensor comprises at least one transponder operativelyconnected to the flow meter. The method also comprises providing atleast one interrogator electronics configured for remote electroniccommunication with the at least one transponder and authorizing thefueling transaction. Finally, the method comprises communicating withthe at least one transponder using the at least one interrogatorelectronics during the fueling transaction.

According to a further embodiment, the present invention provides a fueldispenser. The fuel dispenser comprises a housing, internal fuel flowpiping, and a flow meter operatively connected with the internal fuelflow piping. The fuel dispenser also comprises a displacement sensor forgenerating information representative of an amount of fuel deliveredthrough the flow meter. The displacement sensor comprises at least onetransponder operatively connected to the flow meter. Finally, the fueldispenser comprises at least one interrogator electronics configured forremote electronic communication with the at least one transponder.

In another embodiment, the present invention provides a fuel dispenser.The fuel dispenser comprises a housing, internal fuel flow piping, and aflow meter operatively connected with the internal fuel flow piping. Thefuel dispenser also comprises a capacitive displacement sensoroperatively connected to the flow meter for generating informationrepresentative of an amount of fuel delivered through the flow meter.Further, the fuel dispenser comprises capacitive sensing electronics incommunication with the capacitive displacement sensor.

According to yet another embodiment, the present invention provides aflow meter assembly. The flow meter assembly comprises a flow metercomprising a shaft. Further, the flow meter assembly comprises adisplacement sensor for generating information representative of anamount of fuel delivered through the flow meter. The displacement sensorcomprises at least one transponder operatively connected to the flowmeter. The flow meter assembly also comprises at least one interrogatorelectronics configured for remote electronic communication with the atleast one transponder.

In a still further embodiment, the present invention provides a flowmeter assembly. The flow meter assembly comprises a flow metercomprising a shaft and a displacement sensor for generating informationrepresentative of an amount of fuel delivered through the flow meter.The displacement sensor comprises a first capacitive sensing elementoperatively connected to the flow meter. The flow meter assembly furthercomprises a second capacitive sensing element proximate the firstcapacitive sensing element. Finally, the flow meter assembly comprisescapacitive sensing electronics in electrical communication with thefirst and second capacitive sensing elements.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate the scope of the presentinvention and realize additional aspects thereof after reading thefollowing detailed description of preferred embodiments in associationwith the accompanying drawing figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A full and enabling disclosure of the present invention, including thebest mode thereof directed to one of ordinary skill in the art, is setforth in the specification, which makes reference to the appendeddrawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is perspective view of an exemplary fuel dispenser in whichembodiments of the present invention may be used.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of internal fuel flow components of thefuel dispenser of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3A is a diagrammatic representation of a transponder constructed inaccordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3B is a diagrammatic representation of a transponder havingintegrated electronics constructed in accordance with an embodiment ofthe present invention.

FIG. 4 is an elevational view of an exemplary positive displacementmeter and a pulser which may be configured for use with the presentinvention, the meter and pulser being separated for purposes ofillustration.

FIG. 5 is a front view of the positive displacement meter of FIG. 4comprising a transponder coupled with the meter shaft.

FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the pulser of FIG. 4 comprising interrogatorelectronics coupled with the pulser.

FIG. 7 is a flow chart illustrating an exemplary method for detectingfraud or tampering with a displacement sensor or flow meter according toan embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a side view of an exemplary fuel flow meter assemblycomprising a displacement sensor employing transponders and interrogatorelectronics constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 9 is a top view of a sensor disc employing a plurality oftransponders according to an embodiment of the present invention whichmay be used with the fuel flow meter assembly of FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a top view of a sensor disc employing two concentric rings oftransponders according to an embodiment of the present invention whichmay be used with the fuel flow meter assembly of FIG. 8.

FIG. 11 is a diagrammatic representation of a quadrature displacementsensor constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the presentinvention comprising a single transponder.

FIG. 12 is a side view of an exemplary positive displacement metercoupled with the displacement sensor of FIG. 11 in accordance with anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a side view of an exemplary fuel flow meter assemblycomprising a capacitive displacement sensor constructed in accordancewith an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14A is a bottom view of a reader disc which may be used with thecapacitive displacement sensor shown in FIG. 12 according to anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14B is a top view of an encoder disc which may be used with thecapacitive displacement sensor shown in FIG. 12 according to anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a side view of an exemplary fuel flow meter assemblycomprising a capacitive displacement sensor constructed in accordancewith another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a bottom view of a reader disc which may be used with thecapacitive displacement sensor shown in FIG. 15 according to anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 17 is a side view of an exemplary fuel flow meter assemblycomprising a capacitive displacement sensor constructed in accordancewith another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 18 is a bottom view of a reader disc which may be used with thecapacitive displacement sensor shown in FIG. 17 according to anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 19 is a side view of an exemplary fuel flow meter assemblyemploying capacitive sensing electronics to detect fraud in accordancewith an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 20 is a cross-sectional view of a capacitive sensing pad which maybe used with the fuel flow meter assembly of FIG. 19.

FIG. 21 is a schematic diagram of a fuel flow meter assembly comprisingcontactless power transfer electronics according to an embodiment of thepresent invention.

Repeat use of reference characters in the present specification anddrawings is intended to represent same or analogous features or elementsof the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Reference will now be made in detail to presently preferred embodimentsof the invention, one or more examples of which are illustrated in theaccompanying drawings. Each example is provided by way of explanation ofthe invention, not limitation of the invention. In fact, it will beapparent to those skilled in the art that modifications and variationscan be made in the present invention without departing from the scope orspirit thereof. For instance, features illustrated or described as partof one embodiment may be used on another embodiment to yield a stillfurther embodiment. Thus, it is intended that the present inventioncovers such modifications and variations as come within the scope of theappended claims and their equivalents.

Reference is hereby made to commonly-assigned U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 12/698,441 (the '441 application), entitled “Fuel DispenserPulser Arrangement,” filed Feb. 2, 2010, the entire disclosure of whichis incorporated by reference herein for all purposes.

Aspects of the present invention relate to detection and prevention offraud caused by tampering with a displacement sensor coupled to a fueldispenser fuel flow meter. Generally, embodiments employ wirelesscommunications between at least one transponder and interrogatorelectronics associated with a fuel flow meter and a displacement sensor.For example, certain radio-frequency identification (RFID) techniquesmay be advantageously used in accordance with the present invention.RFID systems typically comprise a tag, a transceiver, and a processor orcontroller. The transceiver, or interrogator, has at least one antenna,a microprocessor, and other electronic circuitry. The tag, ortransponder, often has transponder electronic circuitry and an antenna.The electronic circuitry may include a nonlinear device or semiconductorjunction (such as a diode) configured to generate a harmonic of theinterrogating frequency to indicate the transponder's presence. In somemore complex transponders, the electronic circuitry includes anintegrated circuit or other processing device for storing and processinginformation transmitted from and modulating a return signal to theinterrogator. The electronic circuitry of the transponder may alsoinclude a capacitor and nonvolatile memory.

Passive transponders use a signal from the interrogator to provideenergy which activates the transponder's circuitry, while activetransponders contain an independent energy source such as a battery.Battery-assisted passive transponders are also known. In one familiarmode of operation, the interrogator sends an interrogation signal to thetransponder at a first frequency, the transponder responds bytransmitting a coded signal on a second frequency, and the interrogatorreceives and processes the coded signal. The interrogator sends theinformation contained in the coded signal to the controller forprocessing.

Preferably, embodiments of the present invention may utilizeinterrogator electronics associated with the displacement sensor, whichis operatively coupled to the fuel flow meter, and the at least onetransponder may be coupled with or embedded in components of the fuelflow meter (such as a shaft thereof). The interrogator electronics arepreferably in electronic communication with a fuel dispenser controlsystem or another suitable control system. However, as discussed below,other configurations of the at least one transponder and interrogatorelectronics are contemplated. For example, the interrogator electronicsmay be coupled with the fuel flow meter and the at least one transpondermay be coupled with a pulser.

Aspects of the present invention also provide a number of methods fordetecting and preventing fraud. As discussed below, for example, thefuel flow meter and displacement sensor may be wirelessly “paired” viathe transponder and interrogator electronics. Thus, a fuel dispensercontrol system may disallow fueling until an expected signal has beentransmitted from the transponder to the displacement sensor. Where thecontrol system does not receive such a signal at the start of atransaction, this may indicate that the displacement sensor has beenremoved from the flow meter.

In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention, at leastone transponder rotating with the fuel flow meter shaft may be read bythe interrogator electronics during each rotation of the shaft. The fueldispenser control system may correlate each “read” of the transponderwith an expected output from the displacement sensor (e.g., 100 pulsesper transponder signal) to ensure the displacement sensor has not beentampered with. In some embodiments, for example, the interrogatorelectronics may receive signals from a transponder a plurality of timesduring a single rotation. In this case, as the orientation of the tagchanges with rotation of the meter shaft, changes in the gain of theinterrogator electronics and transponder and/or phase of the transmittedsignals may be indicative of rotation of the meter shaft. The controlsystem may also use this information regarding rotation to validateoperation of the displacement sensor. In a final example, interrogatorelectronics may be used to store information representative of the fuelflow meter's history and performance on a transponder coupled with theflow meter.

For the sake of conciseness and readability, the term “transponder” willbe used herein to describe any type of remote communications devicecapable of communicating with communications electronics. The remotecommunications device may include receivers and transmitters alone or incombination as well as transponder electronics adapted to respond toand/or modify an original signal to provide a transmit signal. Thepreferred communications method includes radio frequencies typicallyused in RFID applications, but other RF, infrared, acoustic or otherknown remote communication methods may also be used in some embodiments.A transponder as defined herein may provide either unidirectional orbidirectional communications with fixed-location communicationselectronics and may be active or passive. Likewise, the fixed locationcommunications electronics may also be referred to as “interrogatorelectronics.” Interrogator electronics will generally include atransmitter and a receiver capable of communicating with a transponder.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary fuel dispenser 10 in whichembodiments of the present invention may be used. For example, fueldispenser 10 may be the ENCORE® fuel dispenser sold by Gilbarco Inc. ofGreensboro, N.C. Those of skill in the art will appreciate, however,that the present invention may be used with flow meters in any fueldispenser.

Fuel dispenser 10 includes a housing 12 with at least one flexible fuelhose 14 extending therefrom. Fuel hose 14 terminates in amanually-operated nozzle 16 adapted to be inserted into a fill neck of avehicle's fuel tank. Nozzle 16 includes a fuel valve. Various fuelhandling components, such as valves and meters, are also located insideof housing 12. These fuel handling components allow fuel to be receivedfrom underground piping and delivered through hose 14 and nozzle 16 to avehicle's tank, as is well understood.

The fuel dispenser 10 has a customer interface 18. Customer interface 18may include an information display 20 that shows the amount of fueldispensed and the price of the dispensed fuel. Further, customerinterface 18 may include a media display 22 to provide advertising,merchandising, and multimedia presentations to a customer in addition tobasic transaction functions. The graphical user interface provided bythe dispenser may allow customers to purchase goods and services otherthan fuel at the dispenser. The dispenser also preferably includes acredit card reader and a PIN pad to allow the customer to pay for thefuel at the dispenser using credit or debit cards.

FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of internal components of fueldispenser 10. In general, fuel may travel from an underground storagetank (UST) via main fuel piping 24, which may be a double-walled pipehaving secondary containment as is well known, to fuel dispenser 10 andnozzle 16 for delivery. An exemplary underground fuel delivery system isillustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 6,435,204 to White et al., herebyincorporated by reference in its entirety for all purposes. In manycases, a submersible turbine pump (STP) associated with the UST is usedto pump fuel to the fuel dispenser 10. However, some fuel dispensers maybe equipped with a pump and motor within housing 12 to draw fuel fromthe UST to the fuel dispenser 10.

Main fuel piping 24 may pass into housing 12 first through shear valve26. As is well known, shear valve 26 is designed to close the fuel flowpath in the event of an impact to fuel dispenser 10. U.S. Patent App.Pub. No. 2006/0260680 to Reid et al., hereby incorporated by referencein its entirety for all purposes, discloses an exemplarysecondarily-contained shear valve adapted for use in service stationenvironments. Shear valve 26 contains an internal fuel flow path tocarry fuel from main fuel piping 24 to internal fuel piping 28, whichmay also be double-walled.

After fuel exits the outlet of the shear valve 26 and enters into theinternal fuel piping 28, it may encounter a flow control valve 30positioned upstream of a flow meter 32. In some fuel dispensers, thevalve 30 may be positioned downstream of the flow meter 32. The valve 30may preferably be a proportional solenoid controlled valve, such asdescribed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,954,080 to Leatherman, hereby incorporatedby reference in its entirety for all purposes.

Flow control valve 30 is under control of a control system 34 via a flowcontrol valve signal line 36. Control system 34 may be a microprocessor,microcontroller, or other electronics with associated memory andsoftware programs running thereon. In this manner, the control system 34can control the opening and closing of the flow control valve 30 toeither allow fuel to flow or not flow through meter 32 and on to hose 14and nozzle 16.

Flow control valve 30 is typically contained below a vapor barrier 38delimiting a hydraulics compartment 40 of the fuel dispenser 10. Thecontrol system 34 is typically located in an electronics compartment 42of fuel dispenser 10 above vapor barrier 38. In this embodiment, afterfuel exits flow control valve 30, it flows through meter 32, whichmeasures the volume and/or flow rate of the fuel.

Flow meter 32 may be a positive displacement or inferential flow meterhaving one or more rotors which rotate on one or more shafts. Someexamples of positive displacement flow meter technology which may bemodified for use with the present invention are provided in U.S. Pat.No. 6,250,151 to Tingleff et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,397,686 to Taivalkoskiet al., and U.S. Pat. No. 5,447,062 to Kopl et al., each of which ishereby incorporated by reference in its entirety for all purposes.Likewise, examples of inferential flow meter technology with may bemodified for use with the present invention are provided in U.S. Pat.No. 7,111,520 to Payne et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 5,689,071 to Ruffner etal. and U.S. Patent App. Pub. No. 2010/0122990 to Carapelli, each ofwhich is also incorporated by reference herein in their entireties forall purposes.

Meter 32 is operatively connected to a displacement sensor 44 thatgenerates a signal indicative of the volumetric flow rate of fuel andperiodically transmits the signal to control system 34 via a signal line46. In this manner, the control system 34 can update the total gallonsdispensed and the price of the fuel dispensed on information display 20via a communications line 47.

The term “displacement sensor” comprises any suitable device whichconverts shaft angular position to an analog or digital signal that canbe detected and further processed. The term includes, but is not limitedto, any type of noncontact rotary position sensor or encoder.Embodiments of the present invention may be variously used with bothpositive displacement and inferential fuel flow meters. Furtherinformation on suitable displacement sensor technologies is provided incommonly-owned U.S. application Ser. No. 13/313,894, hereby incorporatedby reference in its entirety for all purposes.

In one embodiment, displacement sensor 44 may be a pulser. Those ofordinary skill in the art are familiar with pulsers that may be modifiedfor use with the present invention. For example, displacement sensor 44may be the T18350-G6 pulser offered by Gilbarco Inc. In otherembodiments, however, displacement sensor 44 may be another suitabledisplacement sensor as described above.

As fuel leaves flow meter 32 it enters a flow switch 48. Flow switch 48,which preferably includes a one-way check valve that prevents rearwardflow through fuel dispenser 10, provides a flow switch communicationsignal to control system 34 via the flow switch signal line 50. The flowswitch communication signal indicates to control system 34 that fuel isactually flowing in the fuel delivery path and that subsequent signalsfrom flow meter 32 are due to actual fuel flow.

After the fuel leaves flow switch 48, it exits through internal fuelpiping 28 to be delivered through fuel hose 14 and nozzle 16 fordelivery to the customer's vehicle.

FIG. 3A illustrates one embodiment of a transponder 52 which may beconfigured for use with the present invention. Communicationselectronics 54, adapted to provide remote communications with variousremote sources, includes a transmitter 56 and receiver 58 havingassociated antennas 60 and 62. Transmitter 56 and receiver 58 operate totransmit data from and receive data into the transponder 52. Theantennas 60 and 62 may be any suitable type of antenna, including butnot limited to a pole or slot antenna. Additionally, transponder 52 mayoperate with only one antenna. Communications electronics 54 may alsoinclude power circuitry 64 and a communication controller 66 associatedwith a memory 68 having any software (e.g., firmware) 70 necessary ordesirable to operate the communications electronics 54 and communicatewith the control electronics 72. Because transponder 52 may be active,passive, or battery-assisted passive, power circuitry 64 may be abattery or an alternative energy storage unit that is charged byelectromagnetic energy when the device is in the field of theinterrogator signal.

Communications electronics 54 is capable of receiving remotecommunications signals through at least one of the antennas 60 and 62,and demodulating these signals. Serial communication betweencommunications electronics 54 and control electronics 72 is provided viathe input/output (I/O) ports 74 and 76 associated with the respectiveelectronics. Communications electronics 54 provides a clock 78 to signalthe I/O port 76 of the control electronics 72. Control electronics 72may include a general controller 80, memory 82, and software 84 toprovide remote processing. Memories 68 and 82 may include random accessmemory (RAM), read only memory (ROM), or a combination of both, asnecessary or appropriate. Further, the memory may preferably benonvolatile memory that stores information to be communicated tointerrogator electronics.

Notably, communication controller 66 and general controller 80 may beintegrated into one controller. Similarly, the software and memory ofthe communication and general control modules may be merged. Finally,control electronics 72 and the communications electronics 54 may becombined and may also include encryption hardware or software asnecessary or desired. Further detail regarding the components of certaintransponder devices is disclosed in commonly owned U.S. Pat. No.6,313,737 to Freeze et al., the entire disclosure of which isincorporated herein by reference for all purposes.

As shown in FIG. 3B, the communications and general control electronics,as well as any associated controllers may be integrated into a singlecontroller system and/or integrated circuit. In such cases, a singlecontroller 86 is associated with memory 88 having any software 90necessary or desirable for operation. In such an integrated system,controller 86 will carry out any control functions.

FIG. 4 shows a positive displacement meter 100 and a pulser 102(separated for illustrative purposes) which may be configured for usewith the present invention. In the illustrated embodiment, meter 100 maybe similar to the C+ meter offered by Gilbarco Inc. As shown, meter 100comprises a body 104 defining a fuel inlet 106 and a fuel outlet 108. Asdescribed above, fuel piping internal to a fuel dispenser is coupled toinlet 106 and outlet 108. Additionally, meter 100 comprises a shaft 110extending from body 104. It will be appreciated that shaft 110 rotatesin response to fuel flow through meter 100.

Pulser 102 comprises a sleeve 112 which surrounds a shaft 113 (FIG. 6)configured for operative connection to shaft 110. Those of skill in theart will appreciate that in some embodiments pulser 102 may be disposedabove a vapor barrier. In such a case, the pulser shaft typicallyextends through the vapor barrier for operative connection with shaft110. Likewise, it will be appreciated that pulser 102 also comprisesinternal pulser electronics in electronic communication with a fueldispenser control system (such as control system 34 described above). Inaddition to generating a pulse series indicative of fuel volume flowingthrough meter 100, the pulser electronics may electronically adjust thepulse series to account for measurement errors. As is well known, thepulse series is transmitted to the fuel dispenser control system fortotalization and/or additional processing. Additional informationregarding communications between pulser electronics and a fuel dispensercontrol system is provided in the '441 application. Generally, however,the pulser electronics may comprise nonvolatile memory in electroniccommunication with a processor, such as a microcontroller,microprocessor or the like. The processor preferably includes softwarenecessary to operate interrogator electronics as described below.

Some preferred embodiments of the present invention provide at least onetransponder and interrogator electronics associated with a fuel flowmeter and a displacement sensor. The interrogator electronics may be inperiodic or continuous remote electronic communication with the at leastone transponder to detect and prevent fraud caused by tampering with thedisplacement sensor. In this regard, FIG. 5 shows positive displacementmeter 100 wherein a transponder 114 is coupled with meter shaft 110.FIG. 6 is a bottom view of pulser 102 wherein interrogator electronics116 are coupled with pulser 102.

More specifically, referring first to FIG. 5, transponder 114 (shownschematically to facilitate illustration) is preferably configured torotate with shaft 110 as fuel flows through meter 100. Transponder 114may preferably be similar to transponder 52, described above. As shown,transponder 114 may be coupled with the distal end of meter shaft 110.However, it will be appreciated that transponder 114 may be disposed inany suitable location along shaft 110 or coupled with another suitablerotational component of meter 100. Also, in other embodiments describedbelow, one or more transponders 114 may be coupled with a disc that isoperatively connected to and rotates with shaft 110. In one preferredembodiment, transponder 114 may be permanently embedded in shaft 110 toprevent removal. Where transponder 114 is permanently attached to shaft110, it may be desirable to form transponder 114 as a passive element topreclude the need for battery replacement. Additionally, a singletransponder 114 is coupled with shaft 110 in this embodiment, butembodiments are contemplated in which a plurality of transponders 114may be provided as described below.

Referring also to FIG. 6, interrogator electronics 116 may be disposedon pulser 102 so that interrogator electronics 116 may communicate withtransponder 114. Those of skill in the art can select a suitablelocation for interrogator electronics 116 based on the communicationrequirements for a particular application, antenna topography andpolarization, and optimal power transfer, among other factors. As shown,for example, interrogator electronics 116 may be affixed to a bottomsurface of pulser 102 in close proximity to the connection betweenshafts 110, 113. Interrogator electronics 116 may be coupled with pulser102 by any suitable method, including adhesive. In some embodiments,interrogator electronics 116 may be disposed within pulser 102. In otherembodiments described below, interrogator electronics 116 may not becoupled with pulser 102, but rather be independently positioned above avapor barrier in the fuel dispenser's electronics compartment. Also, insome embodiments the interrogator electronics may be positioned withinthe electronics compartment while antenna(s) associated with theinterrogator electronics are positioned within the fuel dispenser'shydraulics compartment, in closer proximity to transponder 114. Further,in some embodiments more than one interrogator electronics 116 may beprovided. In any case, interrogator electronics 116 is preferably inelectronic communication with the pulser electronics and/or the fueldispenser control system.

Interrogator electronics 116 are adapted to provide wirelesscommunications with transponder 114. Thus, interrogator electronics 116preferably comprise a transmitter 118 and a receiver 120 with associatedantennas. Transmitter 118 and receiver 120 operate to transmit data toand receive data from transponder 114. Interrogator electronics 116 mayalso include various communications electronics. For example, suchcommunications electronics may comprise a communications controllerassociated with a memory having the software necessary to operateinterrogator electronics 116 and communicate with a fuel dispensercontrol system, such as control system 34 described above.

Based on the above, embodiments of the present invention provide anumber of methods for detecting and preventing fraud. According to oneembodiment, fuel flow meter 100 and pulser 102 may be wirelessly pairedvia transponder 114 and interrogator electronics 116. In particular,prior to installation, information to be communicated to interrogatorelectronics 116, such as a serial number or unique communications ID,may be stored in a memory of transponder 114. Likewise, interrogatorelectronics 116 may be programmed to require this information in aresponsive signal upon initiation of a fueling transaction. Thus,interrogator electronics 116 may “verify” to the fuel dispenser controlsystem that it is coupled to the correct fuel flow meter. The fueldispenser control system may preferably be programmed to require thisverification prior to enabling dispensing. Depending on whether thecontrol system receives this verification from interrogator electronics116 after initiation of a transaction, either interrogator electronics116 may inform the control system that fraud is suspected or the controlsystem may infer that fraud is suspected.

FIG. 7 is a flow chart illustrating an exemplary method for detectingand preventing fraud according to this embodiment. The process starts(step 130) when a customer initiates a fueling transaction. The fueldispenser control system may detect initiation of the transaction (step132) and instruct interrogator electronics 116 (either directly or viathe pulser electronics described above) to verify that pulser 102 iscoupled to its associated fuel flow meter (here, meter 100) (step 134).The control system may then wait a predetermined time to receive aresponse from interrogator electronics 116 (step 136).

Where interrogator electronics 116 are present, they may solicit aresponse from a transponder associated with the fuel flow meter (step138). If a transponder responds, interrogator electronics 116 maydetermine whether the response is correct (step 140). If the response iscorrect, the control system preferably enables fuel dispensing (step142) and the process ends (step 144).

If interrogator electronics 116 receive an incorrect response fromtransponder 114 (such as an incorrect serial number), interrogatorelectronics 116 may infer that pulser 102 has been removed from itsassociated meter and replaced on a meter with a different transponder orthat transponder 114 has been replaced in fuel meter 100. Also, ifinterrogator electronics 116 receive no response from a transponderwithin a predetermined period of time, interrogator electronics 116 mayinfer that pulser 102 has been replaced on a meter without a transponderor that transponder 114 has been removed from fuel meter 100. In eithercase, interrogator electronics 116 may inform the control system thatfraud is suspected (step 146) because pulser 102 is either connected toan unknown meter or transponder 114 has been tampered with.

Additionally, where the control system does not receive a verificationfrom interrogator electronics 116 after a customer has initiated atransaction, the control system may infer that pulser 102 has beenremoved from flow meter 100. Thus, the control system may infer thatfraud or tampering has occurred (step 148). (It will be appreciated thatthe control system or interrogator electronics 116 may also periodicallycheck for lack of an expected responsive signal from transponder 114while the transaction is ongoing.) Then, the fuel dispenser controlsystem may take appropriate action to address the fraud (step 150), suchas by preventing fueling, alerting a fuel station operator, and/orsounding an alarm. The process then ends (step 144).

In another embodiment, the interrogator electronics may be used to storeinformation on the transponder representative of the fuel flow meter'shistory and performance. For example, interrogator electronics 116 maybe configured for both reading from and writing to transponder 114.Thereby, the fuel dispenser control system may periodically instructinterrogator electronics 116 to store, for example, various maintenance,error, and/or operational status data on transponder 114 for laterretrieval. This data may include the total volume of fuel passed throughmeter 100, the number of times a fuel filter has been changed, orcalibration factors. For example, where authorized maintenance personnelchange the filter associated with meter 100, the personnel may enterthis information in a “manager's keypad” at the fuel dispenser. Then,the control system may instruct interrogator electronics to write thisinformation to transponder 114. Additionally, authorized personnel mayuse the manager's keypad and/or a remote control system (such as a sitecontroller) to request specific data stored on transponder 114 to obtainthe operational history of flow meter 100. Where a discrepancy existsfor a particular data metric, this may indicate that fraud has occurred.

According to a further embodiment, where at least one transponder iscoupled with a fuel flow meter and associated with at least oneinterrogator electronics, wireless communications between thetransponder and interrogator electronics during rotation of a shaft ofthe fuel flow meter may be used to “audit” the output of thedisplacement sensor to ensure that tampering has not occurred. Forexample, interrogator electronics 116 may be configured to read fromtransponder 114 once per rotation of shaft 110 as transponder 114rotates through the field pattern of antenna(s) associated withinterrogator electronics 116. Interrogator electronics 116 may thencommunicate a successful read to the fuel dispenser control system.Also, as described above, pulser 102 may be configured to output to afuel dispenser control system a pulse series, wherein each pulserepresents a known volume of fuel passing through flow meter 100.

Thus, the fuel dispenser control system may be configured to compare thenumber of pulses it has received with the number of times interrogatorelectronics 116 has read from transponder 114. Specifically, if pulser102 typically outputs 100 pulses during one rotation of shaft 110, thefuel dispenser control system may expect one read of transponder 114 forevery 100 pulses. Where a discrepancy exists (e.g., 3 reads oftransponder 114 but only 200 pulses received), the fuel dispensercontrol system may infer that pulser 102 has been tampered with and maytake appropriate action to prevent fraud. Additionally, those of skillin the art will appreciate that a fuel dispenser control system maycorrelate reads of a transponder with the output from any compatibletype of displacement sensor as described above.

According to a further embodiment, a plurality of transponders may becoupled with a flow meter shaft such that wireless communicationsbetween interrogator electronics and the transponders may encoderotation of the flow meter shaft. Such an embodiment may be used toaudit the output of a displacement sensor to detect tampering, asdescribed above, or as a displacement sensor itself. More particularly,for example, a plurality of transponders (which may preferably besimilar to transponder 114) may be disposed or embedded around thecircumference of shaft 110 such that each transponder passes through thefield pattern of antenna(s) associated with interrogator electronics 116once per rotation of shaft 110. Thus, interrogator electronics 116 mayread from each of the plurality of transponders to obtain informationrepresentative of the angular position of shaft 110. It will beappreciated that, based on the information transmitted from thetransponders, this embodiment may be used as either an absolute or anincremental encoder. Interrogator electronics 116 may communicate thisinformation to the fuel dispenser control system for further processing.

Those of skill in the art can select a suitable number and configurationof transponders operatively connected with the flow meter shaft based onthe resolution needed or desired for fuel flow measurement.Additionally, where communications between the plurality of transpondersand interrogator electronics are used as a displacement sensor, adisplacement sensor according to the prior art (such as a pulser orother encoder) may not be provided in some embodiments. In such a case,the interrogator electronics and/or their associated antenna(s) whichread from the plurality of transponders may be coupled with the flowmeter or disposed in another suitable location for reading from thetransponders.

For example, in one embodiment of a displacement sensor based onwireless communications between one or more transponders andinterrogator electronics, a plurality of transponders may be positionedaround the perimeter of a disc. In this regard, FIG. 8 is a side view ofan exemplary fuel flow meter assembly 200 comprising a displacementsensor 202 employing transponders and interrogator electronicsconstructed in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.FIG. 9 is a top view of a sensor disc 204 employing a plurality oftransponders 206 according to an embodiment of the present inventionwhich may be used with fuel flow meter assembly 200.

More particularly, fuel flow meter assembly 200 may comprise a fuel flowmeter 208 having an output shaft. Meter 208 may preferably be analogousto meter 100, described above. Sensor disc 204 may preferably beoperatively connected with the output shaft of meter 208 such that thedisc rotates in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of theoutput shaft. In the illustrated embodiment, sensor disc 204 is coupledwith the output shaft via a gearbox 210, which may be used to increaseor decrease the rate of rotation of disc 204 to increase or decrease thenumber of revolutions per gallon of fuel measured. For example, gearbox210 may have a 1:8 ratio in some embodiments. However, gearbox 210 isnot required in all embodiments. As noted above, a plurality oftransponders 26 are preferably coupled with disc 204. As shown, eighttransponders 206 are disposed about the perimeter of disc 204. Disc 204preferably defines an aperture 212 which may be used to couple disc 204with an output shaft of gearbox 210.

A plastic cover 214 may be coupled with flow meter 208 and disposed oversensor disc 204 and transponders 206 to provide protection therefor.Cover 214 preferably abuts the fuel dispenser's vapor barrier 216, whichmay preferably be non-conductive. In some embodiments, vapor barrier 216may be formed of polycarbonate or another suitable plastic material.

The plurality of transponders 206 are preferably in electroniccommunication with at least one interrogator electronics 218 positionedin the electronics compartment. Antenna(s) associated with interrogatorelectronics 218 are preferably positioned to read from each transponder206 once per rotation of sensor disc 204 as each transponder 206 passesthrough the field pattern of the antenna(s). Interrogator electronics218 are preferably in electronic communication with the fuel dispenser'scontrol system as described above.

Where only a single interrogator electronics 218 is used, displacementsensor 202 may provide information regarding the number of revolutionsof the meter 208 output shaft, and thus the volume of fuel dispensed,but it may not be able to provide information regarding the direction ofrotation of the output shaft. Hence, FIG. 10 illustrates anotherembodiment of displacement sensor 202 wherein a sensor disc 220 includestwo concentric rings 222, 224 of transponders 226, 228, respectively.The same number of transponders 226, 228 are preferably provided in boththe first ring 222 and the second ring 224. Transponders 228 in thesecond ring 224, which preferably has a smaller radius than first ring222, are preferably not radially aligned with the transponders 226 infirst ring 222, but rather offset therefrom. For example, transponders228 in second ring 224 may be offset from transponders 226 in first ring222 an angular amount more or less than one-half of the angular amountbetween each transponder 226 in first ring 222.

In this embodiment, antenna(s) associated with interrogator electronics218 read from transponders 226 in first ring 222. Additionally, a secondinterrogator electronics 230 may be provided having antenna(s)positioned to read from transponders 228 in second ring 224. Those ofskill in the art can position the antennas associated with interrogatorelectronics 218, 230 to provide sufficient isolation therebetween, suchthat antenna(s) associated with a particular interrogator electronicsonly read from transponders in the ring which corresponds to thatinterrogator electronics. Also, in some embodiments, only oneinterrogator electronics may be used with antennas configured to readfrom transponders 226, 228 in both rings 222, 224. In operation,depending on the timing or order of signals received from transponders226, 228 in each concentric circle, a fuel dispenser control system mayalso determine the direction of rotation of the output shaft of flowmeter 208. This embodiment may also increase the resolution ofmeasurement, in that the number of “reads” per revolution of the meteroutput shaft will double.

According to a further embodiment, a plurality of transponders coupledwith a flow meter shaft may communicate with two or more interrogatorelectronics to provide an absolute displacement sensor. For example, theinterrogator electronics may be configured to output a unique digital“word” for each angular position of a flow meter shaft. In this regard,those of skill in the art will appreciate that where n interrogatorelectronics are provided, 2^(n) positions of the flow meter shaft may beencoded. The number of transponders provided may correspond to thenumber of distinct angular positions needed or desired, as noted above.Also, more than one transponder may be provided at some angularpositions. The topology of the antennas in each transponder at eachposition may preferably be configured such that, at each angularposition of the flow meter shaft, only a predetermined number of the twoor more interrogator electronics are able to read from thetransponder(s).

For example, the output of the interrogator electronics at each angularposition of the flow meter shaft may represent a binary number. In anembodiment where two interrogator electronics, A and B, are provided,four angular positions of the flow meter shaft may be encoded. At thefirst angular position, no transponders may be coupled with the flowmeter shaft, such that neither interrogator electronics A nor B receivesa return signal. This may represent the binary value 00. At the secondangular position, a transponder may be provided with antenna(s) havingtopology or orientation such that only interrogator electronics B mayread from the transponder. This may represent the binary value 01.Similarly, at the third angular position, the antenna topology ororientation may be read to yield a binary value of 10 (i.e., onlyinterrogator electronics A receives a return signal), while the topologyat the fourth angular position may be read to yield a binary value of 11(i.e., both interrogator electronics A and B receive return signals).Thereby, the interrogator electronics may communicate to a fueldispenser control system information representative of the absoluteposition of a flow meter shaft.

In yet another embodiment, changes in the characteristics of signalstransmitted from at least one transponder coupled with a flow metershaft to interrogator electronics during rotation of the flow metershaft may be used to obtain information regarding shaft rotation. Thus,this embodiment may be used to “audit” the operation of a displacementsensor and/or may be used as a quadrature displacement sensor itself(i.e., it may provide the relative position and direction of rotation ofthe meter output shaft). Moreover, because changes in signalcharacteristics are used to monitor shaft rotation, the signals mayconcomitantly convey information stored on the transponder (e.g.,identification information as described above) to the interrogatorelectronics. In other words, wireless communications between atransponder and interrogator electronics may be used both as a securitydevice (e.g., to verify that a displacement sensor is coupled with aparticular flow meter) and as a displacement sensor or encoder. In thisregard, FIG. 11 is a diagrammatic representation of a quadraturedisplacement sensor 250 constructed in accordance with an embodiment ofthe present invention comprising a single transponder 252.

More particularly, the interrogator electronics and transponder 252 maycommunicate a plurality of times during a rotation of the output shaftof a flow meter. Those of skill in the art will appreciate that optimalpower transfer between two antennas occurs when their polarizations arealigned. Where the orientation of a transponder and interrogatorelectronics can be controlled, linear-polarized antennas are often usedfor best performance. However, where an installation requires that atransponder be oriented in a variety of different directions, it may bepreferable to provide circular-polarized antenna(s) at the interrogatorelectronics and a linear-polarized antenna at the transponder.Consequently, the transponder's polarization may be aligned with that ofthe interrogator electronics in many different orientations.

Therefore, in one embodiment, antenna(s) associated with theinterrogator electronics may be circular-polarized. Those of skill inthe art would be able to provide circular polarization of antenna(s)associated with interrogator electronics. For example, as shown in FIG.11, the antennas may comprise two orthogonal dipoles 254, 256 which aredriven by feed attachments 258, 260 that are electrically 90 degrees outof phase. Additionally, antenna(s) in transponder 252 may belinear-polarized, as the orientation of transponder 252 will change asthe output shaft rotates (indicated by the directional arrow in FIG.11).

FIG. 12 is a side view of an exemplary positive displacement meter 262coupled with displacement sensor 250 constructed in accordance with anembodiment of the present invention. Meter 262 is preferably analogousto meter 100, described above, and comprises an output shaft 264 towhich transponder 252 may be coupled. In this embodiment, vapor barrier266, which may again preferably be non-conductive, defines a projectingsquare chamber 268 in which transponder 252 rotates. A plastic cover 270may again abut vapor barrier 266, as described above. Only one antenna254, which may preferably be mounted on chamber 268 and positioned tocommunicate with transponder 252, is shown in FIG. 12. The other antenna256 is similarly mounted on chamber 268 in the same plane as antenna254, but on the axis perpendicular to the page.

Those skilled in the art will also appreciate that as the relativeorientations of a transponder and antennas associated with interrogatorelectronics change, so will the power transferred, the gains of theantennas, the phase of the signals, and the read range, among othersignal characteristics. For example, the Friis transmission equationillustrates the relationship between some of these variables:

$P_{T} = {P_{I}\frac{{G_{T}\left( {\Theta_{I},\Phi_{I}} \right)}{G_{T}\left( {\Theta_{T},\Phi_{T}} \right)}\lambda^{2}}{\left( {4\;\pi\; r} \right)^{2}}\left( {1 - {\Gamma_{I}}^{2}} \right)\left( {1 - {\Gamma_{T}}^{2}} \right){{{\hat{p}}_{I} \cdot {\hat{p}}_{T}}}^{2}}$where P_(T) is the power received at the transponder, P_(I) is the powertransmitted from the interrogator electronics, (Θ_(T), Φ_(T)) are thespherical coordinates defining the orientation of the transponder,(Θ_(I),Φ_(I)) are the spherical coordinates defining the orientation ofthe interrogator electronics, G_(T)(Θ_(T),Φ_(T)) is the gain of thetransponder, G_(I)(Θ_(I),Φ_(I)) is the gain of the interrogatorelectronics, Γ_(T) is the transponder reflection coefficient, Γ_(I) isthe interrogator electronics reflection coefficient, {circumflex over(p)}_(T) is the polarization vector of the transponder, {circumflex over(p)}_(I) is the polarization vector of the interrogator electronics, ris the distance between the interrogator electronics and thetransponder, and λ is the wavelength of the signal.

In one embodiment, either or both of the interrogator electronics andthe transponder may comprise a received signal strength indicator (RSSI)to provide a measure of the power input to their respective antennas.For example, the interrogator electronics associated with antennas 254,256 in FIGS. 11-12 preferably comprise RSSI electronics for reading thestrength of the signals received from transponder 252. In someembodiments, the interrogator electronics may preferably be analogous tothe TRF7960 HF reader offered by Texas Instruments, Inc., which has anRSSI function. Those of skill in the art are familiar with othercommercially available interrogator electronics and/or transceiverscomprising suitable RSSI electronics for this purpose. As describedabove, as the relative orientation of transponder 252 with respectantennas 254, 256 changes, so will the antenna gains—and thus the powerreceived—at a particular antenna. Thus, reading received signal strengthfrom transponder 252 and applying simple geometry allows theinterrogator electronics to calculate the angular position of the outputshaft of a flow meter. According to a further embodiment, theinterrogator electronics may be configured to detect changes in thephase of the signals transmitted from transponder 252 during rotation ofthe output shaft.

In either case, either the interrogator electronics or the fueldispenser control system may use these changes in signal characteristicsto monitor the rotational speed, direction, and/or position of flowmeter 262 output shaft 264. In other embodiments wherein displacementsensor 250 is used in conjunction with prior art displacement sensors,such as pulsers, this information may be used to verify that the priorart displacement sensor has not been tampered with, such as by comparingrotation with an expected number of pulses, as described above.Additionally, it will be appreciated that this embodiment may detecttampering wherein a tamperer attempts to pry meter 262 from its mount.Specifically, any tampering would bring transponder 252 out of the fieldpatterns of antennas 254, 256, causing a loss of contact. Becausetransponder 252 may typically be in contact with at least one ofantennas 254, 256 during normal operation, the interrogator electronicsand/or the fuel dispenser control system may indicate that tampering hasoccurred if contact with both antennas 254, 256 is lost for apredetermined period of time.

Depending on the rate of rotation of output shaft 264, it may bedifficult to interrogate transponder 252 a desired number of timesduring one rotation of shaft 264 to obtain its angular position at adesired resolution. Thus, in some embodiments, it may be desirable toincrease the resolution of shaft position measurements by providing morethan two dipole elements. This may enable the interrogator electronicsto read from transponder 252 a greater number of times during eachrotation of the shaft.

According to further embodiments, capacitive sensors may be used toencode rotation of the output shaft of a flow meter and detect fraud.Those of ordinary skill in the art are familiar with capacitive sensingelectronics which, upon detection of an abrupt change in capacitance,such as that caused by a user bringing a finger in proximity to ormoving a finger away from sensing electrodes, triggers a predeterminedevent. The capacitive sensing electronics may comprise, for example, adedicated integrated circuit or software aided by internal hardwareresources on a microcontroller. Additionally, the capacitive sensingelectronics are typically capable of processing signals received overmultiple input channels.

These embodiments may preferably be used in conjunction with anembodiment of a displacement sensor using wireless communication betweentransponders and interrogator electronics to encode rotation of the flowmeter's output shaft, such as the embodiments described above withrespect to FIGS. 8-12, although this is not required. For example, afuel dispenser control system may use the output of the capacitivesensor encoder to audit the output of the transponder/interrogatorencoder to ensure accuracy and that fraud has not occurred.

In this regard, FIG. 13 is a side view of an exemplary fuel flow meterassembly 270 comprising a capacitive displacement sensor 272 constructedin accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Fuel flowmeter assembly 270 may further comprise a fuel flow meter 274, which maypreferably be analogous to meter 100, discussed above. Capacitivedisplacement sensor 272 comprises a reader disc 276 and an encoder disc278. Encoder disc 278 may preferably be coupled for rotation with theoutput shaft of flow meter 274. A plastic cover 280 may again be coupledwith flow meter 274 and surround encoder disc 278. Preferably, plasticcover 280 abuts a vapor barrier 282, which is preferably non-conductive.Reader disc 276, which is preferably stationary, may preferably bedisposed coaxially with encoder disc 278 on the upper side of vaporbarrier 282 in the fuel dispenser electronics compartment. Because thecapacitance between conductive layers on reader disc 276 and encoderdisc 278 is proportional to the area of the conductive layers and thedielectric constant and inversely proportional to their separationdistance, the size of each disc 276 and 278 and their respectiveconductor layers will depend in part on the thickness and dielectricconstant of vapor barrier 282.

Referring now to FIG. 14A, which is a bottom view of reader disc 276,and FIG. 14B, which is a top view of encoder disc 278, reader disc 276and encoder disc 278 preferably each comprise printed circuit boardshaving one or more conductive layers defined thereon. The conductivelayers may be formed of a variety of suitable materials, includingcopper, indium tin oxide, and printed ink. In particular, the conductivelayers of reader disc 276 may comprise a central ground plane 280 and aplurality of radial segments 282 defined about the circumference ofencoder disc 276. In the illustrated embodiment, eight radial segments282 are shown, but additional or fewer radial segments may be providedin other embodiments. It will be appreciated that reader disc 276 andencoder disc 278 need not be circular, but may define other shapes inalternative embodiments. Also, in another alternative embodiment, theconductive layers of reader disc 276 may comprise sensing segments onconcentric rings and resemble a Gray code wheel (analogous to those usedin optical displacement sensors).

Notably, radial segments 282 are isolated from central ground plane 280by a uniform gap 284. The capacitive sensing electronics apply a voltageto each radial segment 282, and ground plane 280 is connected to ground.Because the electric field energy associated with each radial segment282 travels across gap 284 to ground plane 280, there will be aparasitic capacitance between each radial segment 282 and ground plane280. It will be appreciated that, depending on the size of gap 284, someof the energy spills over into the sensing area over the gap, creatingfringing electric fields. The size of gap 284 affects the amount offield energy directed to ground plane 280, and thus the parasiticcapacitance between each radial segment 282 and ground plane 280. Thoseof skill in the art can select a suitable size for gap 284 based on thedesired parasitic capacitance, but in one embodiment the gap size may beapproximately 0.5 mm.

Additionally, encoder disc 278 preferably comprises a single conductivelayer 286. In the illustrated embodiment, conductive layer 286 maycomprise a circular center portion 288 having the same diameter asground plane 280 of reader disc 276 and a radial portion 290 extendingbetween center portion 288 and the periphery of encoder disc 278.Preferably, radial portion 290 extends through a larger angle than eachradial segment 282, such that radial portion 290 may overlap two or moreradial segments 282 when reader disc 278 is positioned beneath encoderdisc 276. This may allow the capacitive sensing electronics to determinethe direction of rotation of encoder disc 278 and thus of the outputshaft of flow meter 274.

In operation, as encoder disc 278 rotates with the output shaft of flowmeter 274, conductive layer 286 passes beneath ground plane 280 and eachradial segment 282 in sequence. Conductive layer 286 adds conductivesurface area, and thus additional charge capacity, to the capacitivesystem between ground plane 280 and a particular radial segment 282.Capacitive sensing electronics in electrical communication withcapacitive displacement sensor 272 may monitor changes in capacitanceacross each radial segment 282 and ground plane 280 of reader disc 276caused by the rotation of encoder disc 278. Because the capacitivesensing electronics may process signals received over multiple inputchannels, the capacitive sensing electronics can preferably determinewhich radial segment 282 conductive layer 286 is passing at a giveninstant. Thereby, capacitive sensing electronics may determine therotational speed, direction of rotation, and position of the outputshaft of flow meter 274. As noted above, displacement sensor 272 maythus be used to audit the output of a displacement sensor using wirelesscommunication between transponders and interrogator electronics toensure accuracy and that fraud has not occurred. Alternatively,displacement sensor 272 may be used alone to encode rotation of theoutput shaft of flow meter 274.

Further, embodiments of capacitive displacement sensor 272 may alsoprovide for proximity sensing or liftoff detection to prevent fraud. Inparticular, at any given time the capacitive sensing electronics candetect increased capacitance at a particular radial segment 282 ofreader disc 276 caused by proximity to conductive layer 286 of encoderdisc 278. If the capacitive sensing electronics detect low capacitanceat all radial segments 282, the capacitive sensing electronics maydetermine that encoder disc 278 is not in proximity to reader disc 276and take appropriate action to prevent fraud. Alternatively, capacitivedisplacement sensor 272 may be used in conjunction with a transpondercoupled with flow meter 274 and an antenna coupled with reader disc 276.The antenna may be associated with interrogator electronics which may beused to wirelessly “pair” displacement sensor 272 with flow meter 274,as described above. Thus, if a tamperer attempts to move or remove flowmeter 274, doing so would bring the transponder out of range of theantenna.

Next, a capacitive displacement sensor according to a further embodimentof the present invention is described with reference to FIGS. 15 and 16.In particular, FIG. 15 is a side view of a fuel flow meter assembly 300comprising a capacitive displacement sensor 302. Fuel flow meterassembly 300 may preferably be similar to fuel flow meter assembly 270in many respects. Thus, fuel flow meter assembly 300 may comprise a flowmeter 304 having an output shaft 206. Further, fuel flow meter assembly300 may comprise a plastic cover 308 abutting a vapor barrier 310. Inthis embodiment, however, capacitive displacement sensor 302 preferablycomprises a reader disc 312 and an arm 314 having a length approximatelyequal to the radius of reader disc 312. Reader disc 312, which is againpreferably stationary, may preferably be disposed coaxially with outputshaft 306 on the upper side of vapor barrier 310 in the fuel dispenserelectronics compartment. Arm 314 is preferably coupled at a proximal endthereof to output shaft 306 such that arm 314 rotates in a planeperpendicular to the longitudinal axis of output shaft 306. Those ofskill in the art will appreciate that, in other embodiments, arm 314 mayinstead define a disc or another suitable shape which rotatesperpendicular to the longitudinal axis of output shaft 306.

Referring now to FIG. 16, which is a bottom view of reader disc 312, aplurality of conductive pads 316 are preferably coupled with disc 312.As shown, 8 conductive pads 316 are disposed about the perimeter of disc312. In one embodiment, disc 312 may comprise a printed circuit board,and conductive pads 316 may be formed of a variety of suitableconductive materials as noted above.

Arm 314, which in this embodiment may preferably be formed of anon-conductive material, preferably comprises at least one capacitiveelement 318 positioned at a distal end thereof. Capacitive element 318may preferably be similar to a traditional passive transpondercomprising a capacitor and a receiver, but rather than being configuredto transmit a radio-frequency signal in response to interrogation,capacitive element 318 may be charged in response to interrogation andmay apply a voltage to an electrode in capacitive element 318.Preferably, capacitive element 318 is coupled with arm 314 at a radialdistance from output shaft 306 which corresponds to the radial distanceof conductive pads 316 on reader disc 312. Thus, as arm 314 rotates withoutput shaft 306, capacitive element 318 may pass directly beneath eachconductive pad 316. Capacitive element 318 is preferably in electroniccommunication with at least one interrogator electronics 320 positionedin the electronics compartment. Interrogator electronics 218 arepreferably in electronic communication with the fuel dispenser's controlsystem as described above.

In operation, antenna(s) associated with interrogator electronics 320are preferably positioned to “interrogate,” or charge, a capacitor incapacitive element 318 a plurality of times during a revolution of shaft306. Additionally, conductive pads 316 may preferably be in parallelelectrical communication with interrogator electronics 320, although insome embodiments conductive pads 316 may be connected in series. Whencapacitive element 318 is charged by receiving a signal from antenna(s)associated with interrogator electronics 320, it applies a voltage to anelectrode as noted above. When capacitive element 318 passes beneath aparticular conductive pad 316, the energy stored in capacitive element318 may pass from the electrode to the conductive pad 316, such thatthere is a parasitic capacitance between capacitive element 318 and aconductive pad 316. This capacitive coupling completes a circuitmonitored by interrogator electronics 320. When capacitive element 318is charged but is not beneath a conductive pad 316, the electricalenergy stored therein will not have a path to ground.

FIGS. 17 and 18 illustrate a further embodiment of a capacitivedisplacement sensor. FIG. 17 is a side view of a fuel flow meterassembly 322 comprising a capacitive displacement sensor 324. FIG. 18 isa bottom view of a reader disc 312 for capacitive displacement sensor324. Fuel flow meter assembly 322 is preferably similar to fuel flowmeter assembly 300 in many respects, and like reference numerals areused in FIGS. 17 and 18 to denote like elements.

However, in this embodiment capacitive displacement sensor 324 does notinclude interrogator electronics 320 or capacitive element 318. Instead,capacitive displacement sensor 324 comprises a reader disc 312 having acentral signal ring 326, which may preferably be formed of a conductivematerial similar to that of conductive pads 316. Additionally, in thisembodiment arm 314 preferably comprises an inner conductive element 328and an outer conductive element 330. Conductive elements 328, 330 arepreferably in electrical communication along arm 314, such as via aconductive trace or the like. Inner conductive element 328 is preferablycoupled with arm 314 at a radial distance from output shaft 306 whichcorresponds to the radius of signal ring 326 on reader disc 312, andouter conductive element 330 is preferably coupled with arm 314 at aradial distance from output shaft 306 which corresponds to the radialdistance of conductive pads 316 on reader disc 312. Conductive elements328, 330 may be formed of a variety of suitable conductive materials,such as those specified above or otherwise known to those of skill inthe art. Thus, as arm 314 rotates with output shaft 306, outerconductive element 330 will pass directly beneath each conductive pad316, and inner conductive element 328 will rotate beneath signal ring326.

In operation, conductive pads 316 may preferably be in parallelelectrical communication with suitable capacitive sensing electronics.Likewise, signal ring 326 may be in electrical communication with thecapacitive sensing electronics. The capacitive sensing electronics maypreferably apply a voltage to signal ring 326, which as noted above mayalways be directly above inner conductive element 328 regardless of theposition of arm 314. Thus, there may be a parasitic capacitance betweensignal ring 326 and conductive element 328, and a voltage will beapplied to conductive element 330. When conductive element 330 passesbeneath a particular conductive pad 316, electrical energy may pass fromconductive element 330 to the conductive pad 316, such that there is aparasitic capacitance therebetween. This capacitive coupling completes acircuit monitored by the capacitive sensing electronics. When conductiveelement 330 is not beneath a conductive pad 316, the voltage appliedthereto will not have a path to ground. In other embodiments, such aswhere reader disc 312 is positioned within the hydraulics compartment ofthe fuel dispenser, inner conductive element 328 may be in directphysical contact with signal ring 326. Also, it will be appreciated thatin other embodiments the capacitive sensing electronics may apply avoltage to each conductive pad 316, rather than to signal ring 326, andoperate in a similar fashion.

Hence, in both embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 15-18, interrogatorelectronics 320 or the capacitive sensing electronics may determine theposition, rate of rotation, and direction of rotation of arm 314 as itrotates past each conductive pad 316. Thus, displacement sensors 302,324 may likewise be used to audit the output of another displacementsensor, or the fuel dispenser control system may use information fromdisplacement sensors 302, 324 to determine the amount of fuel dispensedthrough flow meter 304. Additionally, both embodiments may provide forproximity sensing or liftoff detection to prevent fraud as describedabove with respect to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 13-14B.

Further, in both embodiments, to provide an alternative method ofsensing direction of rotation, reader disc 312 may have two concentricrings of conductive pads as discussed above with reference to FIG. 10.Then, in the embodiment described with respect to FIGS. 15-16, arm 314may comprise an additional capacitive element at a radial positioncorresponding to the radial position of the additional ring ofconductive pads 316. Likewise, interrogator electronics 320 may beassociated with additional antenna(s) for charging the additionalcapacitive element on arm 314. Also, in the embodiment described withrespect to FIGS. 17-18, arm 314 may comprise an additional conductiveelement positioned for capacitive coupling with the additional ring ofconductive pads 316.

A further embodiment of the present invention provides a method fordetecting fraud caused by liftoff or removal of a pulser usingcapacitive sensing. In this regard, FIG. 19 is a side view of a fuelflow meter assembly 350 comprising a flow meter 352 having an outputshaft coupled with a pulser 354. Flow meter 352 and pulser 354 maypreferably be similar to flow meter 100 and pulser 102, described indetail above. As shown, pulser 354 is disposed above a vapor barrier356, which in this embodiment is preferably formed of a conductivematerial, such as metal. Vapor barrier 356 defines an aperture 358,through which the pulser shaft may extend.

In this embodiment, pulser 354 is preferably provided with one or morecapacitive sensing pads. For example, in FIG. 19 two such capacitivesensing pads 360 are disposed between pulser 354 and vapor barrier 356.Referring also to FIG. 20, which is a cross-sectional view of capacitivesensing pad 360 coupled with vapor barrier 356, capacitive sensing pad360 may comprise a printed circuit board 362 having conductive layersdefined thereon. The conductive layers may be formed of a variety ofsuitable materials, including copper, indium tin oxide, and printed ink,as explained above. In particular, the conductive layers of sensing pad360 may comprise a ground plane 364 which surrounds an electrode 366. Aswith reader disc 276 described above, ground plane 364 and electrode 366are separated by a gap 368. Capacitive sensing electronics preferablyapply a voltage to electrode 366, whereas ground plane 364 is connectedto ground. Because the electric field energy associated with electrode366 travels across gap 368 to ground plane 364, there will be aparasitic capacitance between ground plane 364 and electrode 366.

A second printed circuit board 370 may overlay ground plane 364,electrode 366, and gap 368. In one embodiment, printed circuit boards362, 370 may be 0.5 mm thick FR-4 printed circuit boards. As shown inFIGS. 19 and 20, capacitive sensing pad 360 is preferably coupled withpulser 354 and then pressed tightly against metallic vapor barrier 356when pulser 354 is coupled with meter 352. Vapor barrier 356 addsconductive surface area, and thus additional charge capacity, to thecapacitive system between ground plane 364 and electrode 366. Capacitivesensing electronics in electrical communication with capacitive sensingpad 360 may monitor for changes in capacitance between ground plane 364and electrode 366. In operation, where a tamperer attempts to removepulser 354 from meter 352, capacitive sensing pad 360 will move awayfrom vapor barrier 356, causing a decrease in capacitance. Thecapacitive sensing electronics sense this decrease and may takeappropriate action to prevent fraud.

FIG. 21 is a schematic diagram of a fuel flow meter assembly 400comprising contactless power transfer electronics 402 according to oneembodiment of the present invention. As described below, contactlesspower transfer electronics 402 may be used to detect fraud and providepower to a displacement sensor located beneath a fuel dispenser vaporbarrier. Those of ordinary skill in the art are familiar withcommercially available contactless power transfer electronics, such asthe wireless charging solution offered by Texas Instruments, Inc. In oneembodiment, contactless power transfer electronics 402 may be similar toelectronics used for recharging wireless devices in accordance withstandards defined by the Wireless Power Consortium.

More particularly, contactless power transfer electronics 402 preferablycomprise transmitter electronics 404 and receiver electronics 406.Transmitter electronics 404 may comprise a power driver stage, such as aswitching regulator or a class D amplifier, and a processor, such as amicrocontroller or the like. The power driver stage may drive a loopantenna at a predetermined frequency to transmit power to receiverelectronics 406 via inductive coupling. Similarly, receiver electronics406 may comprise a loop antenna which delivers power to a rectifier and,ultimately, to the attached load. Receiver electronics 406 may alsocomprise a processor which monitors the process and sends digital databack over the low frequency link to convey information to transmitterelectronics 404.

Meter assembly 400 preferably comprises a plastic cover 408, asdescribed above, which encases displacement sensor electronics 410.Cover 408 preferably abuts the fuel dispenser's vapor barrier 412, whichmay preferably be non-conductive in this embodiment. As shown in FIG.21, transmitter electronics 404 are preferably provided in the fueldispenser's electronics compartment adjacent vapor barrier 412, andreceiver electronics 406 are preferably coupled to the surface of cover408 abutting vapor barrier 412 directly opposite transmitter electronics404. Thereby, transmitter electronics 404 may deliver power to receiverelectronics 406 across vapor barrier 412 and through cover 408 viainductive coupling. Receiver electronics 406 may deliver power todisplacement sensor electronics 410.

Displacement sensor electronics 410 preferably comprise a displacementsensor 414 operatively connected to a fuel flow meter, a processor 416,a transceiver 418 having an antenna 420, all in electroniccommunication. In one embodiment, displacement sensor 414 may be atraditional pulser. In other embodiments, displacement sensor 414 may beintegrated with the fuel flow meter housing, for example including apickoff coil or hall effect sensor. Additionally, in some embodimentsall components of displacement sensor electronics 410 may be integralwith the fuel flow meter housing.

To transmit information output from displacement sensor 414 across vaporbarrier 412, transceiver 418 is preferably in remote electroniccommunication with a similar transceiver 422 having an antenna 424disposed within the fuel dispenser's electronics compartment.Transceivers 418, 422 may preferably comprise low power UHFtransceivers, and in one embodiment they may transfer data at afrequency of 915 MHz. A fuel dispenser control system 426 is preferablyin electronic communication with transceiver 422 and transmitterelectronics 404. Preferably, processor 416 may process informationprovided from displacement sensor 414 and provide it to transceiver 418.Transceiver 418 may then transmit the information to transceiver 422,which provides the information to fuel dispenser control system 426. Inan alternative embodiment, information from displacement sensor 414 maybe provided to receiver electronics 406, which may transfer theinformation to transmitter electronics 404 via the inductive link.

Notably, in some embodiments, each fuel flow meter in a fuel dispensermay comprise a transceiver 418, but the fuel dispenser may comprise asingle transceiver 422. In other words, all meters in a fuel dispensermay transmit fueling information from their respective displacementsensors 414 to a single transceiver 422. Additionally, in someembodiments, fuel dispenser control system 426 may also causetransceiver 422 to write information to processor 416 associated withthe fuel flow meter via transceiver 418. Such two way communicationbetween transceivers 418, 422 may be used to combat fraud by wirelessly“pairing” a fuel flow meter with a particular fuel dispenser, asdescribed above.

Further, power transfer electronics 402 may also prevent fraud bydetecting an attempt to remove fuel flow meter assembly 400 from thefuel dispenser's hydraulics compartment. In particular, becausetransmitter electronics 404 may be receiving constant data from receiverelectronics 406, transmitter electronics 404 knows when the link isbroken. An attempt to move or remove fuel flow meter assembly 400 wouldpull assembly 400 far enough away from transmitter electronics 404 suchthat transmitter electronics 404 would flag a disconnect. Thus,transmitter electronics 404 may indicate to fuel dispenser controlsystem 426 that fraud may have occurred.

While one or more preferred embodiments of the invention have beendescribed above, it should be understood that any and all equivalentrealizations of the present invention are included within the scope andspirit thereof. The embodiments depicted are presented by way of exampleonly and are not intended as limitations upon the present invention.Thus, it should be understood by those of ordinary skill in this artthat the present invention is not limited to these embodiments sincemodifications can be made. Therefore, it is contemplated that any andall such embodiments are included in the present invention as may fallwithin the scope and spirit thereof.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of conducting a fueling transaction at afuel dispenser, said fuel dispenser comprising a flow meter operativelyconnected to internal fuel flow piping, said method comprising the stepsof: providing a displacement sensor for generating informationrepresentative of an amount of fuel delivered through said flow meter,said displacement sensor comprising at least one transponder operativelyconnected to said flow meter; providing at least one interrogatorelectronics configured for remote electronic communication with said atleast one transponder; authorizing said fueling transaction;communicating with said at least one transponder using said at least oneinterrogator electronics during said fueling transaction.
 2. The methodof claim 1, wherein said at least one transponder is coupled forrotation with a shaft of said flow meter.
 3. The method of claim 2,wherein said communicating step comprises interrogating said at leastone transponder during each rotation of said flow meter shaft.
 4. Themethod of claim 3, further comprising encoding rotation of said flowmeter shaft based on responsive signals from said at least onetransponder to generate said information representative of an amount offuel delivered through said flow meter.
 5. The method of claim 2,further comprising the step of determining at least one of the rate ofrotation, direction of rotation, and the position of said flow metershaft.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein a unique ID is stored in amemory of said at least one transponder.
 7. The method of claim 6,wherein said communicating step comprises requesting said unique ID fromsaid at least one transponder upon initiation of said fuelingtransaction.
 8. The method of claim 1, wherein said displacement sensorfurther comprises a capacitive sensor which generates said informationrepresentative of an amount of fuel delivered through said flow meter.9. The method of claim 8, wherein a control system of said fueldispenser is configured to compare said information representative of anamount of fuel delivered through said flow meter with the number oftimes said at least one interrogator electronics has interrogated saidat least one transponder during said fueling transaction.
 10. A fueldispenser, comprising: a housing; internal fuel flow piping; a flowmeter operatively connected with said internal fuel flow piping; adisplacement sensor for generating information representative of anamount of fuel delivered through said flow meter, said displacementsensor comprising at least one transponder operatively connected to saidflow meter; and at least one interrogator electronics configured forremote electronic communication with said at least one transponder. 11.The fuel dispenser of claim 10, wherein said flow meter comprises ashaft, and wherein said at least one transponder is coupled for rotationwith said shaft.
 12. The fuel dispenser of claim 11, wherein said atleast one interrogator electronics is configured to interrogate said atleast one transponder during rotation of said flow meter shaft.
 13. Thefuel dispenser of claim 10, further comprising a control system inelectronic communication with said at least one interrogatorelectronics.
 14. The fuel dispenser of claim 13, wherein said controlsystem periodically instructs said at least one interrogator electronicsto detect the presence of said at least one transponder.
 15. The fueldispenser of claim 10, wherein said at least one interrogatorelectronics is configured to interrogate said at least one transponderupon initiation of a fueling transaction.
 16. The fuel dispenser ofclaim 15, wherein fuel dispensing is not authorized if said at least oneinterrogator electronics does not receive an expected signal from saidat least one transponder.
 17. The fuel dispenser of claim 16, whereinsaid expected signal comprises identifying indicia of said flow meter.18. The fuel dispenser of claim 10, further comprising an opticaldisplacement sensor.
 19. A fuel dispenser, comprising: a housing;internal fuel flow piping; a flow meter operatively connected with saidinternal fuel flow piping; a capacitive displacement sensor operativelyconnected to said flow meter for generating information representativeof an amount of fuel delivered through said flow meter; and capacitivesensing electronics in communication with said capacitive displacementsensor.
 20. The fuel dispenser of claim 19, further comprising at leastone transponder coupled for rotation with a shaft of said flow meter andat least one interrogator electronics configured for remote electroniccommunication with said at least one transponder.
 21. The fuel dispenserof claim 19, wherein said capacitive displacement sensor comprises areader having a plurality of conductive pads defined thereon and an armcoupled for rotation with a shaft of said flow meter.
 22. A flow meterassembly, comprising: a flow meter comprising a shaft; a displacementsensor for generating information representative of an amount of fueldelivered through said flow meter, said displacement sensor comprisingat least one transponder operatively connected to said flow meter; andat least one interrogator electronics configured for remote electroniccommunication with said at least one transponder.
 23. The flow meterassembly of claim 22, said displacement sensor further comprising apulser.
 24. The flow meter assembly of claim 22, wherein said at leastone interrogator electronics is configured to interrogate said at leastone transponder during a fueling transaction to generate saidinformation representative of an amount of fuel delivered through saidflow meter.
 25. The flow meter assembly of claim 22, wherein said atleast one transponder comprises a plurality of transponders.
 26. A flowmeter assembly, comprising: a flow meter comprising a shaft; adisplacement sensor for generating information representative of anamount of fuel delivered through said flow meter, said displacementsensor comprising a first capacitive sensing element operativelyconnected to said flow meter; a second capacitive sensing elementproximate said first capacitive sensing element; and capacitive sensingelectronics in electrical communication with said first and secondcapacitive sensing elements.
 27. The flow meter assembly of claim 26,said displacement sensor further comprising a pulser.